Apparatus for supplying fluid in varying volumes



July 2s, 1925. 15473.24r

T. L. HlLEs APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FLUID IN VARYING VOLUMES Filed July 2o. 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1 QIS l AJuly 28,1925.

T. L. HILES APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYINGr FLUID IN VARYING VOLUMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20. 1923 KLM* Patented July ze, 1925.`

PATENT oFFlcE.

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Toallwhom z't mag/concern.'

Be it known that I, THERON L, HILEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niles, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Ap aratus for Supplying Fluid in Varying olumes, of which the following 1s a specification.

The invention pertains to a means adapted to supply a iluid under pressure to` a pipe line or service main, and to maintain the pressure in the service main substan.- tially constant notwithstanding variations in the volume which may be consumed from ltime to time.

Generally stated, the object of my 'invention is-to produce an apparatus of the character indicated, which 1s at the same time more eilicient in operation and' more economical in the consumption of power than other apparatus of the same general character heretofore produced. v

In carrying out my invention, I employ, 1n combination, a com ressor ofa suitable or preferred ty e,`an y a governing means which is contro led by the pressure of the fluid under compression in the service main or pipe line and operates to coordinate the volume of fluid entering the compressor `with that discharged therefrom into #the service main. The combination of a com? presser and governing means, broadly considered, has long been in common" use in the industrial arts, but in all instances, so far as I am aware, prior apparatus employ va compressor which o rates at substantially 4its maximum capacity at all times, there being associated with the compressor a by pass, which, when the volume being con-I sumed at any given time falls, serves to re' p turn from the compressor outlet to the inlet the excess, or unused portion ,of the fluid.

Obviously such return of the excess, or unused portion of th iiuidcompressed results in a. large reduction in the neral eciency of the apparatus, especia ly when as 1s l Ausually the case, the system seldom operates at maximum capacity. c Thus, not onlyis -there a waste of power. in compressing andrecompressin the fluid, but such, recom- Apression of t e fluid generates heat which must Vbe provided for by special coolin Y equipment. Also, the return of l unu'A e portlons of the Huid to the compressor inletfV s.

renders it djicultto control properly the flow to the compressor of a plurality of fluids through separate inlets, as is the case when the apparatus isA employed, for example, in mixing and compressin air and gas for combustion urposes, t e result being thatthe desires proportion of the gases constituting the mixture is materially disturbed. y l

In my apparatusV I haveeliminated the necessity for using a by-pas's in connection with the com ressor, by the coordination of the volume o luid entering `the service line with that entering the compressord and pass- Y In therethrough. To thls end -I employ vva ve means, under the control of agovernor in communication with the service line, which serves not only to control the ilow of fiuidthrough the compressor to the servy ice main, but also to control any tendency 'of the fluid to ow in the reverse direction,

that is to say, from the. servicemain to the compressor; but since the control of the Aoutlet port is coordinatedI with the control of the inlet port, the volume of fluid dis'- charged bythe com ressor at any given time corresponds to t at which is entering the com ressor at that time. On the other hand, s ould the pressure in the service main suddenly rise due to a reduced de mand, the ensuing restriction of the'outlet port of the compressor, together with a restriction of the inlet. port prevents or at least materially retards the transmission of the increased pressure from the service mam to the compressor. As a result, the compressor is merely called upon to com ress the limited volume of fluid admitted t ereto, being unburdened of an excessive backressure, 'as well as of an unused portion of the iluid returned through a by-pas's. As a further result, the tendency of the ilu1d in the service main to surge or pulsate as is commonly the case, especially when compressors of the centrifugal yor non-positive -type are employed, is substantially overcome. This. result is articularly advantageous in cases where t e apparatus is em loyed for compressing air and gas forcem- Eustionl purposes because, as is well understood =in thevart, a fluctuating-'pressure in the service main of loo iiexible character of the burners. Also, the

aforesaid result is advantageous because it renders it practicable to use compressors of the non-positive type which are more economical in the use of power, and because in the absence of a fluctuating pressure in the service main, the formation of a combustible mixture, through the induction of air into the system at the burners, is rendered impossible. 4

For convenience, I have herein shown and will describe my invention as applying more particularly to gaseous fuel supply systems.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view partially diagrammatic in character of a gaseous fuel supply system embodying an aparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of a positive type compressor equipped with a controlling means constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a detail of construction. Fig. 3 is a similar view but showing a non-positive or fan type of compressor with a different form of valve means. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the system comprises generally a reducing valve 7 interposed in a pipe line 8 communicating with a suitable source of fuel gas supply. 9 designates generally the compressor, and 10 the controlling means therefor embodying valve-controlled inlet passa e for gas and air, and an outlet passage or the mixture, the pipe line 8 being connected to discharge into the gas inlet assage. 11 (Figs. 3 and 5) indicates a sli e valve in the forni of a flat plate constituting part of the mechanism for controlling the fiow of the mixture through the compressor. This valve member 11 is mounted so that it is automaticallycontrolled by the pressure in the outlet passage to coordinate with the volume of the mixture issuing from the compressor the combined volume of air and gas admitted to the compressor. 12 is a pipe line constituting the service main leading from the outlet of the compressor and havin communicating therewith various branc or supply pipes provided with burners or unloading devices 13.

The reducing valve 7 may be of any preferred or Well known construction. That shown herein comprises a casing 14 having a valve-controlled passage 15 therethrough. The valve in turn is controlled by a diaphragm 16 which is subjected to the ressure of the gas at the outlet side o the valve. This device is adjustable through the medium of weights 17 so as to maintain in the pipe line 8 at the inlet of the compressor a predetermined degree of pressure of the gas. This pressure may, for example, be atmospheric.

The compressor 9 shown in Figs.1, 3 and 4 is of the non-positive or centrifugal fan type, comprising an annular casing 18 having rotatively mounted therein an impeller 19, which is driven by means of an electric motor. This impeller is of the non-positive type but a blower of the positive type shown in Figs. 2 and 2a may be employed. The inlet and outlet for the casing of the compressor, (Figs. 1 and 3) are herein arranged so as to be juxtapositioned and hence capable of being controlled by a single valve member in the form of a flat plate. To'this end the casing is shaped on opposite sides (Fig. 4) to provide suitable ways or channels 20 communicating with the casing at the axis of. the impeller and each divided to form an air assage 21 and a passage 22 for' fuel gas. etween said channels the casing has a radially extending portion 23 providing an outlet passage 24 terminating above the passage 22. The opposite channels 20 are brought together at their outer ends so that the pairs of passages 21 and 22 merge into single passages as at 20EL (Fig. 4). As will be' understood, the arrangement is such that the valve means is adapted to restrict or enlarge simultaneously and to the same degree the eective areas of the inlet and outlet openings. n

The controlling means 10 for said inlet and outlet passages of the compressor comprises,a casing 25A (Fig. 5) which is divided by horizontal partitions to form a gas inlet chamber 26, an air inlet chamber 27 and an outlet chamber 28 for the-primary mixture. The valve member 11 is mounted in the casing 25 so as to slide with reference to the partitions forming the chambers, being slotted as shown in Fig. 5 for this pui'- pose. It thus controls simultaneously the .passageways through the chambers 26, 27

and 28. Preferably the inner wall of the casing is provided with V-shaped web portions 29 with which the end of the valve member 11 is adapted to coact to gradually open or close said passagewa-ys. v

The valvel member 11 is arranged to be automatically actuated in the operation of the compressor by means of a diaphragm '30 mounted in al llaterally extended portion of iir the casing 25,v so as to form in one endtherewhich serves to maintain a predetermined pressure at the outlet of the 'chamber 28 by Vits action upon the valve member 11.

Leading from the chamber 28 is the servable or preferred construction.

Preferably some means is employedv for proportioning the flow of air and gas to the compressor in thedesired ratio. Herein I have shownfor this purpose simply a pair of manually operable'valves 21* and 22 (Fig. 3). i

In Fig. 2 I have shown an apparatus employing a positive type compressor. This a paratus' comprises a main casing'or Ibase rtion an anaving a rotor be providing in its upper nular compressor casing 38 39 therein. An inlet chamber 40 may formed integral with the base 37 at the inlet 'side of the compressor casing 38. At the outlet 'side of the casing 8 there is provided a service or delivery passage discharging into the supply main 46. Within Ythe annular casing 38. is a slide valve 47 in the form of a curved or annular plate which is mounted to float or slideupon the inner peripheral wall 48 of the casing 38 and is provided with an inlet port 49 adapted to establish communication between the compressor inlet and the inlet chamber 40, and an outlet port 50 establishing communication between'the compressor outlet and the service passage 45.

Eccentrically of the annular casing 3S is mounted a shaft 53 -for the rotor 39. The rotor in this Vinstance is provided with a plurality of radially slidable blades 54 maintained by centrifugal force in the operation of the rotor in sliding .contact with the inner peri hery of the ring valve 47.

The port 49 (v ig. 2a) is made of a width somewhat lessv than the width of the blades 54 so that as the blades pass the port they are'maintained against outward movement. Similarly the port 50 is made of less width than the blades.

The inlet chamber 40 o ns directl into the compressor 38 at the inlet side t ereof so as to be controlled by the ring valve 47.

Likewise the inlet tothe service assage 45V opens directly from the outlet slde of the compressor 38 so as' to be controlled by the ring valve.

The means provided for actuating the ring valve 47 to move the ports49 and- 50 therein into and out of register with the outlet of the inlet chamber 40 and the inlet to the service passage 45 lcomprises in this instance a 'pressure-responsive member or diaphragm 55 forming one wall ofA a closed chamber 56 provided by the'base 47, and communicating with the service by means of a port 57. A rack bar 58 is passage 45 connected with the diaphragm 56'by means v.of a rod 59, and is connected with a gear segment `60,0n the lower outer periphery of the ring valve by suitable means, such as a inion 61. A suitable bearing bracket 62 1sv provided for the rod 59, and the rod also has a bearing in one wall of a housing 63 formed in the base immediately below the.

annular casing 38 and closed therefrom by the ring valve. The housing 63 thus constitutes a chamber or enclosing' .the gear means, and in practice the housing may be filled with o'il. 'The diaphragm chamber may have a removable'end wall 66 to permit of access to the operating mechanism.

For the pur se of insuring the maintenance of a pre etermined minimum pressure in the service main, I provide means capable of acting upon' the ring valve to position it with the ports 49 and 50 located to permit the passage therethrough of the proper volume of air or other fluid. This means herein comprises a series of weights 67 suspended upon a cord 68 which passes over a pulley 69, and is secured to a block 70 fixed upon the rod 59.

In the event that the rotor 39 should continue to operate after the ring valve 47 has been moved into such position' as to completely close the outlet of the compressor, I provide in order to avoid injury to'the a paratus, a relief valve 71 in a chamber 2 which is arranged to communicate at Vall times with the outlet passage 45 through a port 45. .The valve 71 is normally held by a spring 73 in position over a port 74 which is arranged to register with one -end of the port 50 when the latter completely closes vthe outlet passage. The spring is arranged to yield only under an extraordinary pressure, to preventinjury to the apparatus.

While I have shown 1n the two forms of the invention illustrated, controlling means in which the two valves are integrally connected, it willv be understood that this construction is not essential but that any other or preferred form of mechanism for coordinatlng the operation of the two valves may be employed. Moreover, in some cases it may be convenient ordesirable to have the valves controlled by means other than the ressure in the service main, as for example, y electric or magnetic means operating under'the control of a thermostat or other automatic device.

. When the apparatus is used in a gaseous fuel supply system where two gases, such as air and fuel gas are passed through the compresser, a high vdegree of efficiency isi obtained in the mixing of thegases as Well as in the combustion thereof. Thus, the pro-Y vision of my improved controlling means, coordinating the volume of mixture dismain at any given time with that enteringl the compressor, renders it possible to eliminate the return How through a by-pass of an excess or unused portion of the mixture as in prior apparatus. This is advantageous because the return of a greater or less volume of unused gas has the efl'eot of varying the suction intensity at the compressor inlet, and such variation, owing to the difference in the specific gravities of gas and air,tends to vary the rates of low of the gases being mixed. Also, the provision of a valve at the inlet to the service line tends to prevent iiuctuation in pressure or surging therein, with the result that the pressure in the service line is maintained more nearly constant and hence the velocity ofthe mixture at the burners is maintained substantially uniform. Thisr is desirable because variations in the velocity at which the gaseous mixture is discharged produces a disproportionate variation in the amount of air entrained for intermixture and combustion.

But Whether the apparatus is used as a part of a fuel supply system, or for other purposes where it-is desired to supply a varying volume of fluid under pressure, my invention eiects a substantial saving in the amount of power consumed in the operation of the compressor, it being evident that the amount of current consumed by the motor varies under differing load conditions. 'With prior apparatus it is customary to provide acompressor of suiiicient capacity to handle the peak load, Awhereas the normal operative conditions are such that they compressor is called upon to operate normally under much less than peak load capacity. The result is that the compressor is almost constantly performing useless work resulting in a great waste of power and energy. In the case of my apparatus, however, inasmuch as the compressor outlet is controlled with the compressor inlet, a building up of lpressure in the service line eliminates Ain whole or in part the back pressure upon the compressor, so that the compressor is called upon at any given time to handle only that volume which is required to maintain the predetermined pressure in the service line.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a means of an advantageous character for supplying a fluid under pressure to maintaln in a service line a substantially constant pressure notwithstanding iiuctuatio'ns in the demand; and while this means is particularly advantageous in a gaseous fuel supply system to maintain the predetermined ratio between the air and gas constituting the pri# mary mixture and in rendering it possible to use in such a system a non-positive or fan type compressor, the apparatus is also capable of advantageous use in supplying3 a single iuid such as air to a service main ecause of the substantial saving elected.k in

the power consumed by the compressor while maintaining the pressure in the service line substantiallyv constant. Indeed, the apparatus is capable of use in a gaseous fuel supply system in which a fuel gas only is admltted to the compressor, the entire supply of air being admitted at the burner outlets. It Will therefore be understood that in the interpretation of the appended claims they should not be limited to the mixture of air and gas and it should also be understood that the particular construction and arrangement herein set forth with Vconsiderable detail is not considered essential, it being contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing Jfrom the spirit and ,scope'of the invention.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 130,- 574, filed December 1,3, 1920. f

I claim as my invention:

l. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, a service main communicating with the compressor outlet, and valve means for controlling simultaneously and at all times the low of fluid through said inlet and outlet openings whereby to coordinate the volume discharged from the compressor at any given time with that entering and passing through the compressor.

2. A compressor having inlet and outlet ports,44 valve means adapted to control the respective ports, and means for simultaneously operating said valve means whereby to' coordinate the volume discharged from the compressor at any given time with that entering and passing through the compressor.

3. A compressor having inlet and outlet ports and a slide'valve adapted in the same movement to open orl close the respective ports simultaneously.

4C. A compressor having juxtapositioned inlet and out-let orts and a valve member in the form of a smgle plate adapted to close both rts simultaneously.

5. n apparatus of the character described comprising a compressor having an inlet and an out-let, and a unita-ry means for controlling both the inlet and the out-let whereby to equalize at all times the volume entering, passing through and leaving the single valve member for controlling both of said ports and serving to close the outlet port whenl the pressure in the service main having outlets, of a means for supplying a` 'gaseous fluid to said mainv comprising a compressor having an outlet communicating with the service main, and an inlet communicating with av source of supply, and

. valve means controlled by the lpressure m the service main at' the compressor outlet adapted to govern 4the ow of the gaseous A fluid to the compressor and also from the compresso-rV to theservice main wherebythe fractional compressor capacity volumes will be equivalent to the volumes synchronously iischarged from the service main at its outets` 8 The combination Vwith a service mainhaving a plurality of burner outlets, of a compressor` having' an inlet and an outlet, the latter communicating with the service main, and valve means for controlling the How of the gaseous fuel to and from the compressor, said means being adapted to' maintain the pressure in the service main substantially constant by limiting` the volume entering and paing through the compressor at anygiven time to the volume consumed at said outlets at that time.

9. An apparatus for mixing air and gas for combustion comprising a com ressor having an inlet and an outlet, sais inlet communicating with a. source of gas supply and with a source of air supply, and

outlet communicating with a service hne, and means controlled by the pressure in the service line at the compressor outlet for simultaneouslyopening or closing the inlet and outlet ports of the compressor, Vwhereby the volume flowing throu h the compressor ged from the service main areequalized.

10. A compressor having inlet and outlet openings, means providing a pair of passageways commumcating with the compressor inlet and a passageway communicating with the compressor outlet, one of said in letv passageways connecting with a'source o fv gas supply and-.the other one of said inlet' ,passageways connecting with a sourceof air supply, means for controlling theilowbf air and gas'through said passageways in' a predetermined proportion, and valve means for controlling simultaneously the flow of air and gas to the compressor inlet and of the mixture of air and gas from the compressor outlet whereby to coordinate the volume discharged from the compressor at any given time with that entering and pass ing through the compressor.

11. A compressor comprising a casing, means providing a chamber at one side of the casing divided to form two passa eways therethrough, the compressor casing avin its inlet communicating with one of sai passageways and its outlet communicating with the other one of said passageways, and a valve member in the chamber operable -to control both of said passageways.

12. A compressor having a casing, means providing a chamber adjacent the casing having a plurality of passageways therethrough, the compressor vhaving an inlet communicating with certain oi said passageways and an outlet communicating with the other of said passageways, .valve means in said chambe for controlling said passageways, and means for actuating said valve member comprising a closed chamber communicating with the compressor outlet 1' and a diaphragm subject to the pressure in said closed chamber and connected with the valve member.

13. A compressor having inlet and outlet openings, the latter being adapted to discharge mto a service line whereby to supply iiuid under pressure thereto, and automatically operable valve means operable to restrict or enlargesmultaneously and to the same degree the eiective areas of said openings.

14. A compressor'- having `a'casing providing a passageway extending the compressor inlet toa terminal oint adjacent the compressor outlet and a smgle valve member at this point forl nchronously controlling the circulation of uids into andv out of the compressor-and into a service main.

15. A rotary compressor having an inlet port and an outlet rt juxtaposed, and a casing providin a posed ports, an a single valve mem r 1n said casing operable to simultaneously control the 'said ports.

16. A compressor having inletl and outlet ports, a valve means mounted in each port, a servies-main communicating with the compressor outlet, and control means operatively connected with said valve means,

Vsaid control means being connected in the ousing for the 'uxt'a- IWW lll 

